Animal trap



Aug. 30, 1938. A. FABIAN ,128,

- ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 15, 1956 2 Shegts-Sheet l INVENTOR WITNESSATTORNEYS A. FABIAN ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Aug. 30, 1938 Mrs smrss ANIMAL TRAP AugustFabian,

New York, N. Y.

Application August 15, 1936, Serial No. 96,265

1 Claim.

The invention relates to an animal trap and more especially to rattraps.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a trap of thischaracter, wherein'rodents or other animals can be caught and onentrance to the trap will be drowned, the same being enticed by baitwhich is disposed in a novel manner with respect to the entrance of thetrap and for assuring the enticing of the animals for entrance to thetrap.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trap of thischaracter, wherein the same resets itself after the catching of ananimal, the drowned animal being readily removable automatic.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a trap ofthis character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in form sothat it will successfully entrap and destroy mice, rats or other animalsand such trap being thoroughly sanitary as it can be cleaned readily andis entirely automatic in the working thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a trap ofthis character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliableand efiicient in its operation, novel in its make-' up, strong, durable,and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention andpointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of'the trap constructed in accordancewith the invention and set for the catching of a rodent.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a complete vertical longitudinal sectional view through thetrap showing the same from the trap and the working of such trap beingsponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, the trap comprises an entrance. cageH] which is of tapered formation longitudinally thereof and is made witha solid base H and a solid top I 2, respectively, while the verticalwalls l3 are of wire mesh or wire fabric. The base II has a rearextension M which is separated from the cage ill by a vertical partition[5 formed with right angular upwardly tapered side wings or flanges 56which are joined at their lower ends with the base i l, the extension Mbeing for a purpose to be presently described.

Formed centrally longitudinally of said cage ill is an isle or tunnelway H which at the outer end thereof forms an entrance 88 while onopposite sides of this isle or tunnel way are bait compartments I9 foraccommodating bait 20. The top l2 has hinged thereto doors 2| normallyclosing openings for access to the compartments i9 so that the bait 20can be placed within the latter, these doors 2i being hinged at 22 forvertical swinging movement and are normally in closed position.

Removably placed on the rear extension I4 is a substantially rectangularshaped watercontainer 23, being of the same height as the partition l5and is fitted between side ledges 24 on said extensions I4 and the wingsor, flanges I6 of said partition. The container 23 is open at its topand is adapted to contain a quantity of water or other liquid for thedrowning of rodents drop- .ping into the container.

Arranged at the upper end or top 25 of the partition is a verticallyswinging cover 26 for the upper open end of the container 23 when uponthe extension M, the cover being hinged at 27 for vertical swingingthereof and carries a latching hook 28 to engage with a keeper 29' onthe said container 23 and in this manner the container is fastened inremovably supported position upon the extension I4.

Rising from the top l2 of the cage Ill next to the partition I5 is avertical column 30 made of wire mesh fabric and this column at its upperend has communication through openings 3! and 32 formed respectively inthe partition l5 and the body of the container 23 next thereto while thelower end of this column has communication with the isle or tunnel llthrough an opening 33 formed in the top It of said cage thus an animalpassing into the tunnel ll through the entrance l8 will gain entrythrough the column 30 and openings 3| and32 into the container 23; Ar-

ranged at the opening 32 is a gravitating gate 34 having a saw toothedout-turned lower edge 35, the upper edge being hinged at 36 to the saidcontainer 23 and this gate 34 checks the return of the animal from thecontainer 23 to the column 30.

Arranged midway within the column 3!! is a check gate 31 which ispivoted at 38 to open upwardly but closes the column on downwardmovement thereof, the gate ill being set at an inclination or slope inthe direction of the partition l5, being pivoted to the latter. Thisgate 3'5 also checks the animal from returning from the column 30 intothe cage IE! or tunnel l'l after passing the gate on upward travel ofsuch animal within the column. V

On opposite sides of the entrance it are vertical guide posts 39 formingtracks for a vertically or perpendicularly slidable trap door 46 whichthrough a link M is suspended from a vertically swinging hanger 42pivoted at 43. to the partition l5 and joined with a depressible treadpiece 44 extended through the openings 34 and 32 beneath the gate 34into the container 23. Thus an animal passing through the openings 3|and 32 will tread upon the piece 44 and by the weight of the animal thedoor 453 will slide to open position at the entrance l8.

Arranged well within the tunnel l i is a depressible tread pedal. orpiece 45 having a forwardly directed rearwardly inclined trigger 46which plays through a clearance 4'! in the top i2 of the cage i0 andthis trigger latches the door 46 in an open position. When an animalsteps upon the pedal or piece 45 the trigger 46 will release the door 48which under its own weight will slide to closing position at theentrance l8 and thereby entrapping the animal within the tunnel IT. Thisanimalwhen within the tunnel H seeks outlet from the trap by crawlingupwardly in the column 30 and thence through the openings 3| and 32 ontothe piece 44 whence by the weight of the animal it will drop into thewater contents of the container 23 and become drowned. The weight of theanimal upon the piece 44 causes the opening of the door 40 and thetrigger 46 then is in aposition to latch the said door 46 open so thatin this manner the trap is reset so that the trap will be in conditionfor a second catch or further trapping of animals.

It is preferable to have the top 2'! provided with a handle 48 so thatthe trap can be readily carried in the hand for the placing thereof atany desired locality. The trap can be placed upon a floor, foundation orother support and by sliding the door upwardly this door 4!! will belatched in normal open position by the trigger 46.

The pedal is pivoted at 49 to the bottom I l for vertical swingingmovement and becomes tilted by the load thereon. Likewise the piece 44tilts under a load.

By removing the container 23 it can be dumped for the discharge of thewater contents thereof or for removal of the drowned animals as may becontained therein.

When the door 4%] closes upon the animal within the tunnel I! the saidanimal can not make an escape from the trap and is drowned as beforedescribed.

What is claimed is:

A trap of the kind described comprising a cage having a tunnel openingthrough one end and bait compartments on opposite sides thereof, apartition rising vertically from the cage, an extension at the base ofthe cage and extended rearwardly of said partition, a liquid containerseated upon said extension and open at its top, said container having anentrance port at the upper end thereof, flanges at the sides and top ofthe partition and coacting with the extension for interfitting of thecontainer with the partition and separable seating thereof, a coverhinged to the partition and closing the open top of the con tainer, acolumn rising from the cage and having communication with the port ofsaid container and said tunnel, respectively, a door controlling thetunnel at the end opening through the cage, a tread pedal at the pointof communication of the column with the said container and havingconnection with the door for the opening thereof when the pedal isloaded, pedal operated means within the tunnel and having a trigger forlatching the door inopen position and releasing the door when the pedalis subjected to a load, and a gravity operated gate pivotally connectedto said container for closing said port to prevent an animal entrappedwithin said container from passing through said port after saidcontainer has been disengaged from said partition. 7

l AUGUST FABIAN.

